The Basics about UAE

Abu Dhabi (aboo dub-bee): It is the federal capital of the United Arab Emirates and is the largest Emirate in the UAE. The name Abu Dhabi means 'Father of the Gazelle'. Visitors coming from the state of the art Abu Dhabi International Airport will find many nice surprises as they pass the Al Maqtaa Bridge. The central part of the emirate is found on an Island known as Abu Dhabi City, and the island was connected to the mainland by two bridges. Abu Dhabi City is a beautiful garden city of boulevards, green parks, and water fountains.

Dubai (do-bay or do-buy): Dubai is a city of contrasts, where the old and new makes it a mysterious exciting place to it's visitors. It is a very welcoming city and increasingly becoming very well known worldwide. Some people believe "Dubai' is a shorter form of the word "Daba" meaning a prospering or florishing market. It has several names such as the City of Gold because of its famed Gold Market, and The City that Cares since the merchants set aside money from its promotions for charities. Dubai has worked very hard to achieve its fame. It is also the venue of many major world class sporting events such as the Dubai Desert Classic Gulf Tournament, the ATP-sanctioned Dubai Tennis Championships, the Dubai Sevens (Rugby Meetings), the Emirates Grand Prix (off-shore Power Boat Championship), the UAE Desert Challenge, and the Dubai World Cup (the world's richest horse-race).

Sharjah or ash Shariqah (shar-ja): This city is also known as The City of Knowledge. It is known for it beautiful and impressive achitectual buildings, mosques, museums and distinctive Islamic designed souqs. It is a great place to visit and see the Al Buheirah Corniche and its local resturants such as The Al Sha-abiah Resturant on the Corniche and the Fisherman's Wharf overlooking the poolside and Khalid's Lagoon. Sharjah has many beautiful gardens and a nice atmosphere. Being in Sharjah gives you easy access to Dubai and Ajman. Sharjah also encompasses some beautiful oasis areas such as Al Dhaid where you can see many vegetables and fruit such as strawberries being grown.

Ajman (aj-man): This is the smallest Emirate of the United Arab Emirates and lies between Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain. The central area of Ajman is developed, while the rural area has many farms. It has a few good fast food restaurants, a City Center (shopping mall) and cinema, and a traditional Islamic designed souq.

Fujairah (foo-jay-ra): This Emirate has a beautiful and very scenic mountain scenery and the winding roads are part of its beauty as you always wonder what scene is at the next turn. It has waterfalls and beautiful untouched beaches which are a major attraction to tourists and visitors from abroad and within the UAE. The beaches are a great attraction to divers who enjoy discovering the amazing marine paradise of the UAE coasts . It is definitely a major resort area.

Umm Al Quwain (um al kee-wayne): This is an Emirate where people like to go sailing and bird watching. It is famous for its Multi-million dirham "Dreamland" Aqua park which attracts thousands of visitors. Umm Al Qaiwain's popular archaeological sites are Ad Door, a flourishing port town and nearby Tell Abraq a fortified settlement from around 2,500 BC. It is also famous for Falaj Al Mu'ala a natural oasis and an important agricultural area.

Ras Al Khaimah (ras al kay-ma): It's name means 'head of the tent'. I did a little research and found out that 'Al Khaimah' (the tent) also means a Bedouin shelter symbolizing the traditional arab friendship and hospitality. This Emirate is one of the most natural beautiful spots in the country. It is surrounded by sea, desert and mountains. It is known for its camping grounds when the weather is pleasant, natural water springs where there are separate facilities for men and women to bathe in its natural warm waters. The springs are located next to the mountains In Sh'am. There are several very interesting archaeological sites such as The Queen of Sheba's Palace in the Shimal to the north.

Read more about the UAE

Making a Difference

There are some times in everyone's life when someone beloved to him says "you are not like me, stay away from me, I don't like you, because you are so different", "you have changed a lot"... and so on... And the listener gets deeply hurt most of the times...This writing is for such persons.

Ask yourselves, have you ever found a person 100% similar to you in terms of behavior, choices, thinking, thoughts and feelings? You yourself are a distinct personality in yourself. It really doesn`t matter what others think about you, its important what you think about yourself. Others WILL say, that you are wrong, you are boring, you are idiot, you are worth bullying, but its up to you, whether to accept it or not. When your inner voice of heart will become louder than the voices of the outer world, that day you will conquer your whole life.

You must have heard a saying many times, "Nothing is impossible", and I bet most of the time you took it for granted....never thought of it, never worked of it, isn`t it? Trace out, search within you, what`s the thing which makes you different from others? Whats your specialty? What`s your skills? Whats your prowess? Take your own time and think on it, when you will get your most profound and correct answer, start working on it.

If you think that you are interested more in singing, start it now! Don`t wait! Don't think that people will laugh at you, that you cannot please others with your voice (but its good if you do)...You are not meant to be compulsorily singer or a musician...Singing can be just an interest.. Its not important to perfect in each and every thing....If you think you are good with using an internet, well then, hangout your own website! Just be happy and do what you love to be successful in your life...

For more information,

One in three schoolchildren overweight or obese

Health Authority Abu Dhabi extends reach of campaign to promote healthier living

The screenings, which were conducted by school nurses in the 2011-2012 academic year and analyzed by the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (Haad), also found that 27 per cent of schoolchildren suffer from anemia and that 10per cent is underweight. Abu Dhabi: A comprehensive screening of schoolchildren in the emirate of Abu Dhabi found that nearly 30 per cent are either overweight or obese, health officials announced in the capital on Sunday.

“Living an unhealthy lifestyle not only increases children’s predisposition to develop anaemia, cardiovascular disease and other illnesses but the lack of healthy nutrition also makes them lazy and tired, thus negatively affecting their academic performance,” said Dr Arwa Al Modwahi, senior officer in the community health and surveillance department at Haad.

To eliminate negative food habits and promote an active lifestyle among children, the Haad has extended the reach of its ‘Eat Right Get Active’ campaign this year.

“Last year, 25 public schools participated in the pilot phase of the campaign and we found that children developed an awareness of eating more fruits and vegetables and began to undertake more physical activity. This year, 50 private schools have also enrolled to promote healthier living among their pupils,” Dr Arwa said.

Healthy eating at home

“Our challenge now is to ensure that children continue eating healthy even when they are at home. Unfortunately, many of them resort to junk food when they are not in school,” she told Gulf News.

Results from last year’s campaign revealed a 60 per cent increase in the intake of fruits during the week among schoolchildren in participating public schools.

The Haad is, therefore, working to train representatives from private schools about healthy living habits. In collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Education Council, representatives from public schools will also be trained in 2013.

“We hope the schools will then reach out to parents and pass on the message to them,” Dr Arwa said.

A host of online resources to encourage healthier living are also available for representatives of all schools in the emirate.

“These include food frequency charts, body mass index calculators and questionnaires to measure children’s dietary intake and physical activity. When schools use these resources, the data can be sent over to the Haad for further analysis,” the official added.

For more Information Please click here

Top 10 Most Spoken Languages

The development of spoken languages is probably the most significant development in communications in the history of the world.  Since mankind first developed language, languages have developed into a multitude of varieties, a diversity which endures to this day.  Language is perhaps the most important function of the human body – it allows us to get sustenance as a child, it allows us to get virtually anything we want as an adult, and it allows us many hours of entertainment through literature, radio, music, and films. This list (in order of least to most spoken) summarizes the most important languages in use today.

10.  German (over 90 million speakers)

German is a member of the West Germanic language family, alongside English.  German is primarily spoken, as its name suggests, in Germany, where it is the official language.  However, it is also the official language of Austria, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg, and is one of three official languages of Belgium (alongside Dutch and French) and one of four official languages of Switzerland (alongside French, Italian, and Romansch) and is the official language of Italian province of Bolzano-Bozen.  In addition, it is recognized as a minority language in several countires, including Poland, Denmark, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Common German phrases include Guten tag (Good day), Sprechen sie Deutsch? (Do you speak German?), and auf wiedersehen (Goodbye).

9.  Japanese (132 million speakers)

The Japanese language is a member of the Japonic language family (which also includes the Ryukyuan language spoken on the island of Okinawa).  Most Japanese native speakers live in Japan and its territories, but native Japanese speakers also live in Korea, the United States and Europe.  Japanese is the official language of Japan, and it also enjoys official status in Palau.

Common phrases in Japanese include konichiwa (hello), arigato (Thank you), and sayonara (goodbye).

8.  Russian (144 million speakers)

The Russian language is a member of the East Slavic family of languages, a family which also includes the Belarusian, Ukrainian, and Rusyn languages.  Most of Russian’s 144 million speakers live in Russia, where it is the official language.  Other countries with large Russian-speaking populations include Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.  Russian is written in the Cyrillic alphabet.

Common Russian phrases include ????????????. (ZDRAHST-vooy-tyeh; hello), ??. (dah: yes), and ???????. (spuh-SEE-buh; thank you).

7.  Portuguese (178 million speakers)

The Portuguese language is a member of the Italo-Western branch of the Romance language family.  Like the other Romance languages, it is a descendant of Latin (“Romance” referring to Rome).  It is the official language of both Portugal and Brazil, where most native speakers live.  In addition, it is the official language of Angola, Cape Verde, East Timor, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe, and is a mandatory subject of study in schools in Uruguay and Argentina.  It is currently the fourth most learned language in the world, with 30 million learners.

Common Portuguese phrases include Bom dia (Good day), Como está? (how are you?), and Não (No).

6.  Bengali (181 million speakers)

Bengali is a member of the Indo-Aryan language family, alongside languages such as Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.  Most of its speakers live in the country of Bangladesh, where it is the official language.  Speakers also live in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura and Assam.  Speakers also live in Europe, the United States, and even Saudi Arabia.  Bengali has a rich literary tradition and is a focal point of Bengali nationalism.  Bengali is written in the Bengali script, which is related to the Sanskrit and Hindi scripts.

Common Bengali phrases include Nômoshkar (Hello), Apnar nam ki? (What is your name?), and Ektu (please).

5.  Arabic (221 million speakers)

Arabic is a member of the Semitic language family, which includes Hebrew Neo-Aramaic languages such as Syriac and Neo-Chaldean.  Arabic is most often identified with the Middle East and North Africa, and is the official language of 26 countries.   Has large populations of speakers in both Europe and North America.  Additional, its classical variant is the language of the Qu’ran.  Arabic is written in the Arabic script.

Common Arabic phrases include as-salaamu ‘alaikum (Peace be with you, a formal greeting), Na’am (yes), and ismaHli (excuse me).

4.  Hindi-Urdu (242 million speakers total)

Hindi-Urdu is a member of the Indo-Aryan family, alongside Bengali.  It is a pluricentric language and has two official forms, Standard Hindi and Standard Urdu, although the two forms are nearly indistinguishable from each other.  Hindi is the official language of India, whilst Urdu is the official language of Pakistan.  Urdu and Hindi are also spoken in parts of Europe and North America with heavy Indian and Pakistani immigrant populations.  It is written in both the Hindi alphabet and the Arabic alphabet (for Urdu due to Islamic influence).

3.  English (328 Million speakers)

English is a member of the West Germanic language family.  It originally sprouted from the Anglo-Saxon language (Old English) and borrowed heavily from Latin and French due to the Norman conquest of England.  Though it developed in the British isles, the largest population of English speakers lives in the United States, with about 309 million speakers.  English is the official language of 53 countries, including Ireland, Canada, South Africa, Jamaica, and New Zealand, and is the de facto language of the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.  It also has large speaking populations in several African and Oceanian countries, and is a “subsidiary official language” in India.

English is also an official language of several organizations, including the UN, NATO, and the European Union.

2.  Spanish (329 million speakers)

Spanish is a member of the West Iberian branch of the Romance languages, closely related to Portuguese.  Spanish is one of the most widely distributed languages in the world; it is the official language of over 20 countries, and is the official language of nearly every state in Latin America, excepting Brazil, Belize, etc.  Additionally, large populations of native speakers have immigrated to the United States, and Spanish is now one of the most common languages in the American southwest.  It is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations.

Common Spanish phrases include hola (hello), Que pase un buen día (Have a good day), and ¿Cómo te llamas? (What is your name?).

1.  Mandarin (over 845 million speakers)

Mandarin is often called Chinese by non-speakers, but it is in fact only one of many Chinese languages, which include Cantonese and Xiang, in the Sino-Tibetan language family.  Mandarin is the largest of the Chinese languages, and is the official language of the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan.  It is also one of four official languages of Singapore (the others being English, Malay and Tamil).  In addition, large scale immigration from both mainland China and Taiwan have brought large populations of Mandarin speakers to the United States and Europe.  Mandarin has two writing systems; Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese.

Please click here to view and read more about top 10s

Interesting days

On Tuesday 20^th of November, I had an appointment with the doctor for check up. On that day in the morning while we were sitting, two women from Supreme Council for Family Affairs were placing an advertisement about the breast feeding week. They were placing a poster with two main languages (Arabic and English) and basic information about the week that includes also contact numbers. They were also distributing brochures and balloons all in a themed color which is orange. Also, they conducted a speech about the importance of breast feeding for all patients that were in the waiting area.

Next day I was visiting my sister in Al Wasel hospital because a new member girl was arrived in our family. The hospital was full of series activities and awareness initiatives about the same topic (breast feeding week) tips was hangings in corridors as well as importance and advantages of breast feeding was observed. The key message of the campaign is - "Breastfeeding saves lives in emergencies".

Another interesting thing that I saw while leaving the hospital beside the entrance is a type of a bird that is new to me. I took a picture of it and conduct a comprehensive search via the web about it but unfortunately it was very difficult for me to observe my search and gain more knowledge because the name of the bird was not known.

Nice idea for drawing

 Using the basic tools for drawing black pen, a pencil and a plain white paper. My friend interest is to draw anything she is seeing. Here is some examples of pictures that she draws depending in her mood. It is a nice idea if you love drawing. 

My Family Gathering Day

Every Friday is our family gathering day, this week we have decided to gather on Thursday as we have Al Hijri New Year holiday. On Thursday 15^th of November, my family gathered on Sharjah on an area called Al Majaz Waterfront that is linked with Sharjah Khalid Lagoon. It includes restaurants, stunning landscapes and a giant musical water feature, The Sharjah Fountain. All restaurants have astonishing view to lagoon and waterfront. The musical waterfront is displayed in two languages Arabic and English and the show take place every 1 hour approximately. I have recorded the whole video using my mobile phone but unfortunately it was in Arabic language and I can't unploaded due to high size.

For more information about Sharjah & Al Mazaj Waterfront PLZ click here

National Day Initiative

Last year on 40^th national day of the UAE, a new campaign that was initiated and suggested on Twitter by a UAE national guy called Hassan AL Mazrouei. This initiative has been called “A Flag over our house Campaign” and was supported by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan minister of foreign affairs. All had participated on this initiative last year from all nationalities. This year on our 41 national day and exactly on second of December this year, Sheikh Abdullah had re-initiated the campaign to be continued on its second year. There will be rewards for the best designs. These shows how loyal are UAE nationals and residents to the country. Below is the video for re-initiating the campaign in Arabic language.

Photo from last year

Logo of the Initiative

Islamic Calendar .... Next Holiday

This Thursday we will have a holiday because of the new year of islamic calendar. We will start a new year 1434 A.H and it is used to determine muslim pilgrimage.The Islamic calendar (or Hijri calendar) is a purely lunar calendar. It contains 12 months that are based on the motion of the moon, and because 12 synodic months is only 12 x 29.53=354.36 days, the Islamic calendar is consistently shorter than a tropical year, and therefore it shifts with respect to the Christian calendar.The calendar is based on the Qur'an and its proper observance is a sacred duty for Muslims.The Islamic calendar is the official calendar in countries around the Gulf. The names of the 12 months that comprise the Islamic year are:

1. Muharram	7. Rajab
2. Safar	8. Sha'ban
3. Rabi’ al-awwal (Rabi’ I)	9. Ramadan
4. Rabi’ al-thani (Rabi’ II)	10. Shawwal
5. Jumada al-awwal (Jumada I)	11. Dhu al-Qi'dah
6. Jumada al-thani (Jumada II)	12. Dhu al-Hijja

Smart Advertising

An annual event is taking place now at Sharjah. Sharjah International Book Fair in Expo starting from 7^th of Nov till 17^th Nov in its 31t anniversary this year. One month ago the marketing activities for the exhibition has been launched as one of the advertising that was placed near my house is the below picture advertising. The advertising was placed near sharjah academic city in Al Dhaid road that is known as one of the famous roads at Sharjah city. Actually, I like the advertising as it looks very creative and attractive when you see it that includes detailed description about the fair itself and the time with the logo included.

Read more about the Sharjah International BOOK Fair

New Colorful Room

Attractive

Amazing

Lovely

Charming

Pretty

Fascinating

Interesting

Cute

Sweet

Helpful

Absorbing

Good looking

Eye catching

Captivating

Pleasant

Colorful

Lively

Organizing

Energetic

Full of life

Confident

Make you Optimistic … Make you Cheerful …

Make you Happy … Make you Dream …

My new COLORFUL ROOM

Colors Everywhere....

Colors everywhere everybody I know is wondering why anything I design or made even in my personal life contains different colors. I thought that colors made me more fresh and also thinking positive (being optimistic) because every color observe a definition or meaning to life. While studying colors helps me memorizing faster and describes my personality (this is my view point). Examples of my work during the college life with my final work the blog that illustrates my personality, performance and environment.

A poster for displaying in college

A logo for the business tactics course

A background for the bazaar presentation

Steps to be optimistic

Step to How to Be Optimistic all the Time:

o    Believe in your plan. At least you have studied them well.

o    Believe in today. At least you know yesterday has swept away.

o    Believe in your beloved ones. At least you know how much they do care.

o    Believe in the future. At least you have planned well to achieve your goals.

o    Believe in yourself. At least you have built your personal skills and charisma.

o    Believe in the way you think. At least you know it is positive and constructive.

o    Believe in the way people treat you. At least you are able to read how they think about you.

11 Steps to a More Positive:

1. Think Gratitude

2. Choose Happiness

3. Substitute Challenges for problems

4. View Life as a Journey

5. Stop and Smell the Roses

6. Begin Your Day On a Positive Note

7. Be Positively Aware

8. Act Out Happy

9. Hang Out With Positive People

10. Do A Gratitude Review Nightly

11. Minimize Exposure to Negative Influences

Read the full article (11 Steps to a more positive)

Choosing a color in home decorating

Each desires to outfit their new dream home with unique decor that is both elegant and inviting. There is flooring to install, furniture to pick out and arrange, and walls to be painted. However, before any of these tasks can be accomplished, a decision must be made: what is the color scheme?
Each room in your home has a different purpose and will most likely have a different color scheme. For example, a brilliant orange in the kids' playroom is not as appropriate in the spa-like master bath. In order to determine what colors should be applied to your living spaces, you must first have a basic knowledge of color:

• Primary Colors: – Those three colors learned at a young age are the foundation of the color wheel – red, blue, and yellow.
• Secondary Colors: – These are the colors that emerge once the Primary colors have been combined – purple, orange, and green.
• Tertiary Colors: – The last spokes of the color wheel are made when each of the Secondaries mixes with their neighboring Primary.
• Cool Colors: – Blues, greens, and purples make up the "cool" side of the color wheel. These colors are passive and recede into the background, often making rooms appear larger. Cool colors are ideal for home offices, bedrooms, and other living spaces that require peace and calm. Greens are especially rejuvenating, so strategically placed houseplants can provide a splash of color while maintaining a room's balance.
• Warm Colors: – Reds, yellows, and oranges make up the other half of the color wheel, invigorating living spaces. These are active colors that appear to move toward you and transform rooms into intimate settings. These colors can be distracting, so it is best to use them in creative spaces like playrooms and kitchens. Using them as accents for home offices can keep workspaces from being dreary while retaining productivity.
• Whites & Neutralizers: – Although not considered part of the color wheel, do not overlook the important place whites and neutrals have in your home decorating. Whites promote an open feeling when used in large quantities. Utilized as accents, whites provide crisp frames that showcase other colors. For the walls, turn to soft, muted whites to prevent eyestrain caused by light reflecting off brilliant whites. Neutralizers are those soft hues of tan and cream that bridge rooms together. Cooperative and not distracting, neutralizers blend with all other colors to keep schemes cohesive.

Read the full article @ House Plans

I am...I have...I can...

Time and again I wanted to write something of worth...
But I could not get it done unless the Lord assures me of the guidance that I've sought
For years I have written and composed
Poems of inspiration...out of love and passion of the topic that I chose.
The thoughts maybe varied and sometimes hard to comprehend
But as I finish each one then I have come to understand
That barely I am just a human instrument
I have to use it...a gift from God-so Holy and Omnipotent
Sometimes, I feel unable to begin
It's but a natural thing I'd say
It's when I ask of Him in solitude
That words come flowing in a wondrous way
It's real, I'd feel so deeply loved...given much care
I am so blessed, yet so unmindful...unaware
It is a calling from on high, so special and so rare
For God knows who I am, what I have done and how much I can bear
Now, I know I am able...I have the gift to use
I can do it without ensnare
I'll do what He would have me do
To show I love Him beyond compare.

In these trying times, it is pointless not to be able to identify the things we need to accomplish in life. Our priorities are needed to be set straight and laid on the table. What was once unattainable suddenly becomes realistic and we never really could tell what lies ahead of us. The only thing that keeps us away from attaining and being able to act is the starting point. Now is the right time to do what we can do. Do not procrastinate on the more important aspects of being alive. Use the air we breathe to live and waste no time standing at a spot. Be brave and be counted. Use your talents to create something out of nothing. Tomorrow may be too late. Learn from the mistakes of others not yours. Remember that you have the power to make a big difference by starting small and ending up BIG.

To view more interesting articles please visit interesting articles

Multiplication Schedule

Simple way of learning multiple schedules from 2 till 9 as most of students in 3rd and 4th grades are spending a lot of efforts in order to memorize multiplication tables. I have created this schedule to be as a poster in my nephew’s room so he can review it and memorize it. His teacher gave him a white and black schedule but he said that the colorful schedule is better while memorizing.

Other helpful ideas

• Hang beside it another, initially empty, poster, to which the child fills in those facts he has mastered.
• Recite the skip-counting lists or multiplication facts aloud just before going to bed. This can turn them into mastered facts by the next morning.
• Start with easy tables 2,5,10.
• Have a math notebook which is considered one of the most easiest and effective tools.

Kids Songs

Yesterday my little son returned from the nursery and he was singing the following songs. I downloaded these videos in order to keep him on track and reviewing them.